CBU Downs Utah Valley In Softball Conference Opening Doubleheader

Friday, March 7

Riverside, Calif.

4:00 PM

California Baptist University

12-11, 1-0

Utah Valley

6-12, 0-1

Wolverines

California Baptist

Photo by: Madison Sardana

CBU Downs Utah Valley In Softball Conference Opening Doubleheader

3/7/2025 10:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Daniel Cook, Director of Athletics Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE - Fresh off a stellar weekend in Waco, winning the Baylor Invitational, the California Baptist University softball team kept their success rolling by sweeping the Western Athletic Conference home opening doubleheader against Utah Valley, 8-6 and 5-3. The Lancers now stand at 13-11 on the season and begin conference play 2-0 for the first time since 2021.

Kate Penberthy was a problem for Utah Valley tonight, going 5-6 at the plate with three runs scored, three RBI, one base on balls, a triple, and a two-run home run. Ashlee Annett was a consistent presence at the plate for CBU tonight, going 2-5 on Friday with three RBI and a pair of walks. Morgan McConnell was incredible coming into both games in relief and ultimately earning a win and a save in five total innings pitched, two hits allowed, no runs, and two strikeouts.

GAME ONE: CBU 8 - UVU 6

CBU got things going early on Friday, as Annett ripped a two-RBI single down the right field line, scoring Penberthy and Matti Severns to take the early lead. Utah Valley would respond with a single run in the second but would flood the scoreboard with five runs in the top of the third on a single, a bases-loaded walk, and a diamond-clearing double.

Suddenly trailing, the Lancers didn't retreat, immediately taking back one of those runs in the bottom of the third before bringing forth their own deluge in the fourth. Unlike any team, a two-out rally this season came with the bases loaded and Valerie Alvarez at the plate. She pushed a single through the right side of the field to score Severns, followed by Stevie Robison and Malachy Russell-Millen working bases-loaded walks for RBIs and to tie the game at six all. After a multitude of defensive changes by the Wolverines, Priscilla Estrada laced the third pitch she saw into left field and scored Alvarez. Severns, who led off the inning with a single, now worked a walk to score Robison for free and reach the final score. After retaking the lead, McConnell only allowed two hits to earn her third win of the season.

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GAME TWO : CBU 5 - UVU 3

CBU started fast again in the second game, plating three runs atop the first courtesy of a Penberthy triple, Annett's second single of the day, and Valerie's two-out single to right field scored Annett. The Wolverines, however, would answer right away in the top of the second behind a well-place single and a fielder's choice and tack on one more in the top of the fourth to tie it as three apiece.

With two outs in the fourth, Penberthy returned to the plate with Severns waiting patiently at second. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Penberthy cranked her first home run since her game-winner against North Texas a week ago, hitting the screen about 20 feet off the ground in left-center to make it a 5-3 game. With a single, triple, and home run already in the scorebook, Penberthy unfortunately wouldn't get a fifth at-bat to go for the cycle.

As CBU looked to close the game, Annika Hollingsworth relieved Arana in the fifth inning, looking for a three-inning save. She nearly recognized that dream, but back-to-back singles in the seventh would force Head Coach Mike Smith to his bullpen, where McConnell was ready and waiting. The senior induced a lazy ground out, which she handled herself for the second out, and allowed a fly out to Soto in centerfield to finish the game.

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The Lancers will go for their first conference series sweep of the season on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for noon. The Lancers have swept the Wolverines just once in a three-game series, doing so in CBU's inaugural season in Division I in 2019.